Comparison is the thief of Joy 

Rachael Lock - Park City Church, New Plymouth

Comparison is the thief of Joy!
Such a bold statement, however a very true one.

When we compare ourselves to others we chip away at our self-esteem,
we feel like we are ‘less than’ because someone else appears better than us in some way.

Our internal dialogue can be very negative and our actions towards ourselves and others will reflect this. We learn at such a young age to use our words as weapons, why do we feel the need to bring others low to lift ourselves up?

This is not the way God created us.
 

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
 

We are God’s masterpiece, planned for good things. We all have heard that God has a plan and purpose for each one of us and just because the plan He has for someone else looks so amazing, it doesn’t mean they take away from what God has planned for you.

God created you unique, there is no competition for who you are. He has a future filled with Hope created just for you. A future only you can fulfil, so stop thinking that you are going to miss out because someone else’s journey looks so awesome.  Don’t let your joy be stolen by comparing yourself to someone else or the journey they are on.
 

The word Joy means: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, elation, bliss, rapture, radiance…

The word compare means: a consideration or estimate of the similarities or dissimilarities between two things or people.
 

Now you can understand why the two don’t mesh well together. One is full of pleasure and happiness the other is constantly trying to figure out if two people/things are the same or different.
 

God created us to live with each other in harmony, to encourage each other and to flourish on this earth together.
 

2 Corinthians 13:11 – “Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”
 

Psalm 133:1 – “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers (sisters) live together in harmony!” (brackets added)
 

Psalm 133:3 – “Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting."
 

We were not created to compare ourselves and find ourselves wanting. We need to know who and whose we are and we do this by spending time with God. Seek God and find out what the plan and purpose is, that He has given you to fulfill. There you will find blessing and even life everlasting.
 

Find your place, find your purpose, find your Joy!

Watch video here